Saftu opposes bus companies’ bid for wage exemption

The South African Federation of Trade Unions (Saftu) says it will do everything in its power to get companies who have applied to be exempted from complying with a recent wage agreement to disclose their financial position.

Algoa, Golden Arrow, Putco, Amogelang and Phumatra Transport Enterprise signed an agreement with unions, following a 26-day strike, that workers would receive a 9% wage hike in the first year and 8% in 2019.

Speaking on POWER Breakfast, Saftu’s Zwelinzima Vavi says the exemption cannot be allowed.

“This will set a dangerous and terrible precedent in the industry. It will say to all companies that you can willy-nilly sign wage agreements and a week or two months thereafter turn around say I can’t afford what I’ve just signed,” Vavi explains.

“This is the worst example of bad faith negotiations.”

Earlier this year, bus drivers embarked on a crippling strike which left thousands of South Africans stranded.

Vavi says the union will force the companies to provide evidence of their inability to afford the 9% wage increase.

“They must open their books. We want to see CEOs salaries. We want to see the executive and the board fees. We want to see the profits. We want to make sure they cannot mount a propaganda saying they can’t afford it.”